Prime Minister Sharon has been "summoned" by the opposition to address the Knesset tomorrow, and the Knesset will be asked to approve his speech - creating a tricky situation for both the right- and left-wing parties.
The session at which Sharon will be speaking is entitled, "The Prime Minister's Disengagement Plan and the Government's Policy in the Territories [Judea, Samaria and Gaza]." His appearance was mandated, in accordance with Knesset regulations, after 40 MKs signed a request for Sharon to participate actively in the session. He will deliver a diplomatic announcement, in which he is likely to mention the unilateral withdrawal/expulsion plan only in passing, so as not to arouse the right-wing to vote against him. Herein lies the complexity of the matter: The left-wing will have to decide whether to vote against the Prime Minister, as they are wont to do - or to vote for the unilateral withdrawal, which they generally favor.
The "trap" for the right-wing MKs is even more significant. If the speech is fairly "lukewarm," they will likely see no reason to vote against it - but this will cause a situation in which a speech entitled "The Prime Minister's Disengagement Plan" has received Knesset support. The impression may thus be that the Knesset supports a unilateral withdrawal from Gaza.
MK Aryeh Eldad (National Union) discounts the "dangers" of this possibility. "Tomorrow's vote can in no way or fashion be construed as an official Knesset vote on the disengagement plan," he told Arutz-7'S Haggai Seri-Levy today. "No matter what the outcome tomorrow, Sharon will still have to bring his plan for an official Knesset vote in the future."
Arutz-7's Yosef Meiri also contacted MK Nissan Slomiansky on this topic. "Our vote will be determined by the content of the speech, and not by its name," Slomiansky said. "We will certainly not vote in favor. If he presents the details of his disengagement plan, we will vote against, but if he merely talks about the weather and the like, then we will abstain."
As reported here on Friday, some analysts note that a Knesset vote for even just a mild "disengagement declaration" could be used by Sharon and/or left-wing media to garner more public support for the withdrawal/expulsion plan. Political analyst Dr. Aaron Lerner of IMRA told Arutz-7 today, "Headlines around the world blaring that the Knesset approved the disengagement plan - even if not precisely correct - will present a formidable challenge to the anti-withdrawal camp."
To this end, the Hevron Jewish Community and Cities of Israel - a grassroots pro-Yesha group based in Raanana - are supporting a campaign to make MKs aware that they may be called upon tomorrow to vote for or against the principles of a unilateral withdrawal. The groups note that all MKs' phone and fax numbers appear on the Knesset website, and calls upon the public to remind them succinctly to "Vote Against the Disengagement Plan on Monday."
The session at which Sharon will be speaking is entitled, "The Prime Minister's Disengagement Plan and the Government's Policy in the Territories [Judea, Samaria and Gaza]." His appearance was mandated, in accordance with Knesset regulations, after 40 MKs signed a request for Sharon to participate actively in the session. He will deliver a diplomatic announcement, in which he is likely to mention the unilateral withdrawal/expulsion plan only in passing, so as not to arouse the right-wing to vote against him. Herein lies the complexity of the matter: The left-wing will have to decide whether to vote against the Prime Minister, as they are wont to do - or to vote for the unilateral withdrawal, which they generally favor.
The "trap" for the right-wing MKs is even more significant. If the speech is fairly "lukewarm," they will likely see no reason to vote against it - but this will cause a situation in which a speech entitled "The Prime Minister's Disengagement Plan" has received Knesset support. The impression may thus be that the Knesset supports a unilateral withdrawal from Gaza.
MK Aryeh Eldad (National Union) discounts the "dangers" of this possibility. "Tomorrow's vote can in no way or fashion be construed as an official Knesset vote on the disengagement plan," he told Arutz-7'S Haggai Seri-Levy today. "No matter what the outcome tomorrow, Sharon will still have to bring his plan for an official Knesset vote in the future."
Arutz-7's Yosef Meiri also contacted MK Nissan Slomiansky on this topic. "Our vote will be determined by the content of the speech, and not by its name," Slomiansky said. "We will certainly not vote in favor. If he presents the details of his disengagement plan, we will vote against, but if he merely talks about the weather and the like, then we will abstain."
As reported here on Friday, some analysts note that a Knesset vote for even just a mild "disengagement declaration" could be used by Sharon and/or left-wing media to garner more public support for the withdrawal/expulsion plan. Political analyst Dr. Aaron Lerner of IMRA told Arutz-7 today, "Headlines around the world blaring that the Knesset approved the disengagement plan - even if not precisely correct - will present a formidable challenge to the anti-withdrawal camp."
To this end, the Hevron Jewish Community and Cities of Israel - a grassroots pro-Yesha group based in Raanana - are supporting a campaign to make MKs aware that they may be called upon tomorrow to vote for or against the principles of a unilateral withdrawal. The groups note that all MKs' phone and fax numbers appear on the Knesset website, and calls upon the public to remind them succinctly to "Vote Against the Disengagement Plan on Monday."